Anime Teens

Definitions

• Anime – Animated shows and movies from Japan covering a wide range of genres and styles.
• Manga – Comics from Japan, originally released in a serialized format and collected in graphic novels. Teen anime series are often created as adaptations of manga and vice versa.
• Shonen – Anime and manga intended for teen boys. These series are heavy on action, and tend to involve stories stretching over several seasons – the most popular series have over 100 episodes. The most popular shonen storylines involve the main character striving to be the best in a competition or going on a quest.
• Shojo – Anime and manga intended for teen girls. The shows tend to focus on relationships, romance, magic and humor.

Popular Anime Teen Series

While there are hundreds of anime teen series, with something for every taste, there are a few shows that have found widespread success, usually because they have been aired on cable and satellite TV stations.

• Bleach – Ichigo Kurosaki, an average teenage boy who just happens to be able to see ghosts, finds new purpose in his life when he ends up with the powers of a Soul Reaper, protecting the souls of the dead from evil Hollows. Bleach airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block and the series is available on DVD.
• Fruits Basket – The Sohma family is plagued by an unusual curse – they turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when they're hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Can the optimistic Tohru Honda change the Sohmas for the better? Fruits Basket is available on DVD.
• Fullmetal Alchemist – Skilled alchemist Edward Elric sets out after the mythical Philosopher's Stone and finds himself in the midst of political intrigue and complex moral dilemmas. Fullmetal Alchemist airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block and the series is available on DVD.
• Inuyasha – On her fifteenth birthday, Kagome Higurashi falls through a well and finds herself in feudal Japan fighting evil alongside the half-dog demon Inuyasha. Inuyasha airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block and the series is available on DVD.
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Haruhi Suzumiya is a Japanese high school student interested in the unusual, but she might be the most unusual one of all. A fan favorite thanks to Internet buzz, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is available on DVD.
• Naruto - A young ninja sets out on the path to greatness, meeting friends and making enemies along the way. Naruto airs on Cartoon Network and the series is available on DVD.

Anime Clubs

A great way for anime teen fans to share their love of the genre is through an anime club. Anime clubs may be sponsored by schools, libraries or game/comics/book stores. Club meetings typically include show screenings, discussions of favorite series and movies, gaming and cultural activities. If you would like to start a new club or just want to improve your current club, Anime Clubs Unite is a helpful resource with advice from people who have been there before. Club members should also check with anime distributors for helpful materials. For instance, ADV Films offers the ADVocates program for anime clubs, sending promotional copies of DVDs and offering news and discounts on the latest releases to club sponsors.

Fan Works

Another part of the anime teen experience is fan works, including fan art, fan fiction and anime music videos (AMVs). These can be a fun way to extend the viewing experience by creating stories, drawings and videos focused on favorite characters. Teens who participate in these activities often form online communities based on their shared interests. FanFiction.net is one of the largest spots for posting and reading fan fiction and deviantART is a popular spot for fan art, from portraits to comics. YouTube is a common destination for AMVs.

A Word of Caution

While animated programming in the U.S. is generally considered to be for kids, anime is an all-ages affair. There are programs intended for small children and very adult programs that should only be watched by mature audiences. Unless it is one of the rare movies receiving a theatrical release, anime DVDs usually aren't given MPAA ratings. They do, however, have general age ratings like "13 and up" or "Older Teens" that can be a guideline in determining the suitability of a particular title. Those teens delving into fan works may also come across inappropriate content. Even otherwise innocent series can be the subject of racy stories and artwork. Parents who are concerned about violence, language or sexual content should discuss with their teens the anime shows they watch and the websites they visit.